Big Gav wins riderless Bedourie Camel Cup before Boulia
Big Gav has shaken up the camel racing title race after winning the 2026 Bedourie Camel Cup on a wet track with no jockeys aboard.
Racing for Woodhouse Camels, Big Gav finished ahead of defending champion Geoffrey from Oak Field Ranch, while Barry took third and Morton came fourth.
That Cup result pushed Big Gav into championship contention as the Desert Champions Way Outback Camel Trail heads to Boulia.
Meanwhile, Polished Copper kept his hot form rolling in Bedourie. The Hump N Budgies runner won the Camel Plate after already opening the trail with a victory in Jundah.
Mung Bean finished second in the Camel Plate for Camelot Camels. Uncle Buck ran third and Molly came fourth, giving Camelot Camels the next three placings.
As a result, the title fight remains wide open. Polished Copper arrives in Boulia with wins in Jundah and Bedourie, Geoffrey stays in the hunt with another podium, and Big Gav has surged into the frame.
So far, the Desert Champions Way Outback Camel Trail has stopped at Jundah, Birdsville and Bedourie. Each town has drawn visitors for camel racing, pubs, music, storytelling and red-dirt events across Outback Queensland.
Boulia Camel Races
Next comes the Boulia Camel Races from 17th July to 19th July 2026. The event is billed as the Melbourne Cup of Camel Racing and is expected to bring thousands of spectators to the small Outback town.
Saturday and Sunday will carry the main race programme, including the 1200m Camel Cup. The weekend also features lawn mower races, boots and jock races, a truck pull, camel tagging, yabby sprints, kids races and amusement rides.
Live music is also planned for Friday and Saturday nights in Boulia. Organisers have promoted the meeting as the biggest showdown yet on the 2026 trail.
Bedourie produced a rare twist because the camels raced without jockeys due to the wet track. However, the results still gave a clear read on form before Boulia.
Geoffrey’s second place mattered because he arrived as defending Bedourie champion and still made the podium. Big Gav’s Cup win, though, changed the balance before the next round.
In the 2026 Bedourie Camel Cup, Big Gav of Woodhouse Camels beat Geoffrey and Barry of Oak Field Ranch, with Morton of Woodhouse Camels in fourth. In the Camel Plate, Polished Copper of Hump N Budgies beat Mung Bean, Uncle Buck and Molly, all from Camelot Camels.
Following Bedourie, the immediate championship battle now centres on Boulia from 17th July to 19th July 2026. With Polished Copper in form, Geoffrey consistent and Big Gav coming off a Cup win, Boulia shapes as a decisive round in the 2026 camel racing campaign.
